Wow, ok, so as cliche as it may sound, it does only feel like a short while back that I started up this blog. Who knew a year would in fact, pass so quickly?

Looking back upon the whole blogging experience, there has been so much that I have learnt, so many people I have met and so much IT appreciation you wouldn’t believe it! It is almost a little overwhelming at times 😉

As it says in my ‘Where Did I Come From’ page, this blog started because I needed an outlet for my cooking, which was fast becoming an obsession. It was mum’s idea and I remember how apprehensive I was. Ma, can you remember how I worried I was?

“Will anyone read it?”

“What will I write about?”

“Why would anyone want to read about my baking, I am just a kid”

So many insecurities back then, and some of which still are visible every time I post. What if no one wants to read about it? Honestly, I can’t help but look at the preview at least 5 times before pressing publish! But one stepping stone at a time no?

Ma pushed, told me it would be good, a hobby and something I could express myself through. And that is so true. Whenever I need to push myself to bake something new, something fresh, having a blog inspires me to do it because I know an audience is waiting.Whenever I need some outlet for my thoughts, memories, ideas, I can express them through this blog, interweaving them with the recipes and giving them just that push which is so necessary 🙂

In fact, here are some recipes which have really, I feel, boosted up this blog 😀

This blog has grown considerably and that makes me feel so proud, honestly if I was a pufferfish right now, I actually could explode 😀 😀 😀

But there is no way I could have done it without you all. You all are the very core and crust which keep this blog going, the oxygen which keeps it alive! It is because of all of you, who go through tedious reading, scrolling and sore eyes because of the extremely long posts that anything is possible and each time, I am very, very thankful for it 🙂

Because of you, in one year, Go Bake Yourself has achieved:

636 followers

207 posts (make it 208 now!)

83,375 views at 7:23pm October 1st 2012 (which I hope to make 100,000 very soon!)

A huge range of viewers from my home of all over Australia to India to the United States to Africa

A CONSIDERABLE improvement in photography and basic blogging/writing skills 😀

And I only hope to improve from here, gaining more publicity, hopefully writing an e-book and much much more, which is only possible because you. all. believe. in. me. And I thank you all every single day and love you for it 🙂

In order to celebrate this one year which has gone by and been so important, and to say thank you to everyone, I have decided to host my very own giveaway for you. It is not much but I hope that the eventual winner will enjoy it 😀

It will be a random selection to win a $40 giftcard for Amazon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know, I know, I wish I could send you packets and packets of Tim Tams or more exciting things but I did not want to limit this giveaway just to Australia 😀

In order to enter, there are two things you can do, each one counting as a separate entry 😀

Comment on this post

Like me on Facebook (just post a separate comment saying that you have liked me)

Haha, nope I still haven’t gone Twittering and Pinteresting but hey, I am more than over my head right now 😉
I will give one week for all entries, closing them on the 7th of October 2012 😀

Please enter lovlies, I want everyone to have a chance 😀

There are sooooo many wonderful things to buy at Amazon!

In order to commemorate this event, I decided to make a very special treat which shows a milestone in both baking ability and is a very classy dessert-gone-breakfast 😀

It is so flaky and delicious and melts in your mouth so it was the perfect recipe to toast to each other in celebration! I can remember that the first time that I saw that you could make homemade puff pastry and just thought “pffft as if I will ever do that” 😀

Put the warm water in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the yeast and set aside for 6-7 minutes or until foamy

Mix in the milk and sugar

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. With your palms facing upwards, use your fingertips to rub in 60g of the butter, lifting the flour mixture up as you rub to aerate until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs

Make a well in the centre, add the milk mixture and stir, gradually incorporating the dry ingredients until a soft and sticky dough forms

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic

Place in a lightly oiled bowl, turning over to coat in the oil. Cover bowl in plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draught-free place for 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in size

Knock back the dough in one punch to expel the air. Set aside in a warm draught-free area for another hour to rise

Knock back the dough again and shape into a thick rectangle, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured, cool surface and use a rolling pin to roll out, always rolling away from you, to a 16x32cm rectangle about 8mm thick (I was quite casual about this) – try to keep the edges straight and use a palette knife to straighten if necessary

Dot the remaining butter over 2/3 of the pastry and then use a palatte knife to spread, leaving a 2cm border and 1/3 of the pastry uncovered

Fold over the unbuttered pastry third. Fold the remaining buttered pastry over the top to form a parcel shape. Use your fingertips to seal the edges. Turn the parcel 90 degrees and carefully roll out on a lightly floured surface (always rolling away from you) until it forms a neat rectangle, about 16x32cm

Repeat the folding to make a parcel shape again and wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes

Repeat this process once more: Place pastry on a floured surface with the folded edge on your left and roll, fold and turn, then roll and fold again (bringing you to a total of 4 folds and rolls). Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm before using

Croissants

Makes: 10 (I managed 12 since mine were smaller)

Ingredients:

1 quantity leavened puff pastry (you can use store bought)

2 egg yolks whisked with 1 1/2 tbs water

Method:

Use a rolling pin to roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to 35x53cm rectangle, keeping the sides as straight as possible and rotating the pastry often so you are rolling away from yourself

Use a sharp knife to trim the edges so they are straight(getting a 32x48cm rectangle) – Do not discard the offcuts, I just baked their little squares which tasted like little delicious puffy buttery treats!

Cut the pastry lengthways, making the cut as straight as possible (I used a ruler) – do not separate the two strips

Measure and mark the 16cm intervals along the either side of the cut down the centre of the pastry. On the two outside edges, measure and mark the first 8cm then mark 16cm intervals the rest of the way along. Make straight, diagonal cuts into the pastry to join the marks on each strip and form a triangle – I did not measure and just cut (worked well for me :D)

Separate each pastry triangle then elongate each one slightly by giving it a brief roll lengthways with a rolling pin

Working with one triangle at a time, place the shortest side nearest you and gently stretch the two ends to lengthen slightly

Make a 5mm cut into the base of each triangle at the centre

Roll the croissant up by rolling the base towards the tip. Turn the roll so the tip is facing you then bend to form a crescent shape (I stuffed the shaping up a little, hence my ridiculously pointed tops on some croissants so I fixed it up in my second batch no hassle :D)

Place on a lined baking tray, cover with tea towels and let puff (not double) in size in a warm, draught-free area for 1-1 1/2 hours

Preheat oven to 220 degrees . Brush the croissants all over with the egg wash. Bake for 2 minutes then reduce the heat to 180 degrees C.

Bake for further 15-20 minutes or until puffed and golden.

Transfer to a wire rack and serve warm (or cold but please ;))

Notes & Tips:

People will tell you this is a very sticky pastry to work with etc. etc. but I used minimal flour and it was absolutely fine, easy to roll out and no butter oozing out 😀 – just make your conditions are not freezing cold or very very humid 🙂

I do have a chocolate or ham & cheese or almond filling variation to this croissant but let me know personally by emailing me at gobakeyourself@yahoo.com.au if you would like me to send it to you 😀

THESE ARE EASY DO NOT BE DAUNTED! I made full croissants in a single day – if I can do it, anyone can I promise you and you will not regret the heavenly scent which transforms your kitchen into a bakery 😀

Once again my friends, thank you for making this such an important day. I wish you were all here, sharing these croissants with me literally instead of virtually 🙂

Best of luck for the giveaway too and tell your friends to tell their friends to tell their friends – everyone deserves a chance!

And for my second entry, tag-dah! Of course, I’m your Facebook friend. Always have been and always will be! BTW, thanks for the link to Australia’s best blogs. I’ve pinned it and given you another plug.

Hi CCU, I’m behind reading blogs so I’m just catching up with you. What you said about reading over each post time and time again before you post it… I do that, too, and wish all bloggers would do the same. Yours are always so intriguing, and the spelling and grammar are always spot-on! A lovely recipe, well-explained as usual.

Well done on your first year blogging! I am sure there will be many more to come!! You have such a following of loyal readers after only one year I can’t imagine where you be after year two 🙂 congratulations 🙂

Your croissants look fabulous! Happy Blog birthday to you! 🙂 Wow, you certainly have achieved a lot in such a short time. What a wonderful creative outlet for you not only for your baking, but also for your writing. Congratulations!

Congratulations CCU. I’ve only discovered you recently, but you’re already a favourite. I love your enthusiasm, but most of all, your recipes! The croissants look fab. I’ve never baked them before, but am keen to give them a try. The lemon meringue pie looks superb too.

Happy Blogiversary! Wow, you made homemade puff pastry and croissant! I want to make it myself one day. I try to avoid looking at the amount of butter. It looks flaky and perfect, Uru! It must have been a wonderful blogging year for you, and wish you many more to come!

Happy 1st anniversary CCU…and it was on my actual birthday, too! (Which is why I wasn’t around to comment sooner!) You’ve done a great job in your first year and you should feel proud. Here’s to many more years of successful blogging!

Happy 1st blogiversary! What an array of yummies! Your talent is astounding for someone so young! Geesh, I had not even baked one thing by your age. Imagine where you will be when you’re old like me. 😉 Go for it, Uru! Reach for the stars!

I just stumbled on your blog..Lovely! congrats on the one year of blogging! And that’s one very brave attempt at puff pastry! So many shudder just at the thought of it, myself included. It’s really one tough pastry to work with, esp in warm and humid singapore where I come from.

Happy Birthday to your blog! Wow, you are amazing, CCU! Just one year and look what you have done already… and doing so well in school, having a life, and just having fun at the same time. With your goal setting and work ethics, you will go so far. Not just on your blog, but in life! Wishing you much success and happiness! Also, thank you for being such a wonderful blog friend. 🙂

I am reading your posts from one year, seems like you started few months ago. Happy Blogiversary!
Your croissants look amazing this reminds me that I have to try gluten free pastry.
I really loved your lemon meringue pie and there was one more pie or cake with Kiwis, which you made for your parent’s anniversary.I am really happy for you to achieve this popularity at this young age.

I want to participate in the give away, but I am not on Facebook. Do you still count me in?

Congratulations, girl! You are doing such an amazing job and it makes me wonder what I was doing with myself way back when, lol. I just know that you’ll continue climbing to the top—the tip top bc you’re just awesome like that…here’s to MANY more years of success!!! XOXO

Congratulations! I, too, love your enthusiasm and willingness to take on a challenge. That’s exactly what I think croissants are, a great big challenge. So, I’m inspired and I’m (just a) times older than you!

Happy blogiversary, Uru! You’re amazing – kick ass blog, lovely writing, gorgeous photos and of course, completely drool-worthy recipes! I would never think that “just a kid” is writing this blog. And I would also never have the guts to try making croissants (I’m way too intimidated) but yours look perfect! Thanks for the step by step guide in this post…maybe I’ll try these…someday!

Congratulations on your anniversary! That is so awesome and what a great Ma you have to encourage you to set this up! Give her a hug for me. 🙂 Anyone looking at those pictures would believe you to be an experienced baker with lots and lots of years under her belt. Beautiful!!!

Congratulations Uru on your first Blogversary!!! WOO HOO 🙂 I am super excited for you ~ at such a young age you have managed to create such a wonderful blog, providing your readers with fantastic and detailed recipes ~

I love the enthusiasm and excitement you bring to this blog! Keep up the great work and I will alway support you!! xox

Happy blogiversary, fabulous CCU! Croissants are such an AMAZING way to celebrate and yours look so perfectly Parisian! I definitely need to try this as I’ve been thinking about trying them for ages but I couldn’t quite find the right recipe and encouragement… Thank you for this recipe and for the countless awesome posts you’ve written!!

Facebook is a bit too dangerous for me to use, ahaha, but you should definitely try Pinterest! I LOVE it and there are so many amazing ideas on there- you should definitely check it out at some point. 🙂 Thanks for hosting the giveaway too, it’s so nice of you! E-book news sounds very exciting- keep us posted!

Uru! This is incredible. We (the three pees) are such fans of your writing but more so you’re baking. Thank you for sharing your talent and passions, continue to share the love and please never hold back, especially on the butter, the chocolate, the butter and the chocolate and the butter……and so on 🙂

It’s official you have made us FAT for a year now, but more than that you have made our hearts fat! Congrats my dear friend, to 20 more years of blogging love
(hope this was enough to get me that gift card.LOL *wink* btw i also liked you on facebook.) 🙂

Congrats Uru. That’s such a huge achievement in your first year of blogging. I’ve given you a FB like (I didn’t know you were on FB! so thanks for the reminder) and I’m looking forward to seeing your blog grow and develop hence forward xx

What a great (& very challenging … at least for me haha!!) recipe to share for your blog’s anniversary! They look delicious yum yum! Congrats for sticking with it this long. We started our blogs almost around the same time (my 1 year is next month!!). I am so glad we became foodie friends! Did you just get a facebook page, or have you had it for a long time? Well I just liked your page, I am sure you will reach 1k very very soon!

CCU – Happy 1st year to you!! I am so proud of you and all that you are achieving! You have shown what a creative, talented, funny, and very driven young woman you are. You will do very well in life, my friend! Keep up the good work, you are so very well loved ALL over the world!

Oh wow!!! Congratulations my friend!! Happy Blogiversary!! OMG, your croissants look A-MAZING! I tried making my own a long time ago, but they didn’t quite come out like those buttery, flaky beauties you get at the bakery. And, surprisingly they were more difficult to make than I thought. But since I started taking French lessons this year I’ve been reading up on all the Parisian goodies…and I’m totally ready to give it another go! I am saving this recipe along with those yummy chocolate chip cookies!

I am so excited to join in the part-ay and enter your giveaway! 😀 …oh and if you do join Pinterest, warning: it. Is. Addictive. Seriously. 😉 Hahaha alrighty hon, I shall see you around the blogosphere. Oh and Happy Music Monday to you too! 😉

French lessons? Now that sounds so tasty my friend, can’t wait to see some of those creations 😀
No joke, I studied my croissants recipe every night before trying them 😛 – obsessive!
Best of luck for the giveaway my friend! And yep, plan to obsess over pinterest right now…

Happy anniversary and congratulations! I’m very pleased that you take the time to read my posts and comment! You are such a busy young woman – but that recipe, all that butter, oh………..I feel faint! 🙂 It just looks wonderful!!

YAY!! Happy Blogoversary!! I keep trying to post mine up but haven’t found the time yet. It’s always nice to look back at the past year and see how much you’ve grown! lol Kudos to you for making croissants! Can’t wait to see next year’s blogoversary CCU!! 🙂

Happy Birthday … to the most soulfully and heart-full baking blog in the world .. with no calories whatever. Just love those first photos with all that jam …. Wonderful, that’s how I eat croissants.
Tomorrow the new year has already started and … I can’t wait for all the eye and stomach candy.

I think you are so precious and it is so wonderful the things that you have been able to accomplish in such a short period of time. I know there will be much more to come and I wish you luck in all you do….and these croissants look amazing…and I AM scared to attempt them!

A very happy birthday Go Bake Yourself! Uru, you should be so very proud of all of your accomplishments. Your blog is amazing and so are you. It has been an absolute pleasure to read your blog over that past couple of months, and I’m so glad we were brought together through food. Too bad you’re all the way over there, and I’m all the way over here. Maybe we’ll get to enjoy some tea and these croissants one day (fingers crossed).

These are some beautiful croissants, something I have been too frightened to try, but plan on trying soon. You have boosted my confidence. Thank you.

Happy Blog Birthday! I love your blog and all your recipes! I was wondering if you could also give me some advice…I would love to do a giveaway on my blog soon, and I’d like to know more about how you go about it. Did you contact Amazon for the gift card or are you just buying it and giving it away out of the goodness of your heart? I see people giving away blenders and cookware and all kinds of things, and I want to know how they get those products!

Thank you my friend 😀
And a giveaway on your blog sounds awesome! Nope, I saved up some money to use for this giveaway – I have tried to contact companies before to do some giveaways but I don’t often get back responses and when I do it is negative, I am pretty sure because of my age 😦
But I am sure that if you contact the right people, you can get a sponsored giveaway in which in return for advertising a company, they send you a freebie which you use as your prize 🙂

I have always wanted to make my own croissants but have put it off because I honestly thought it was quite daunting but you are giving me inspiration CCU! Congratulations on your one year Blogiversary! Your site has so much passion and great food.

Happy birthday, “Go Bake Yourself” ! Wishing you many blessings throughout the coming year(s). Beautiful recipes, I love coming here to see what you have in store for us, Master Uru. Homemade croissants are something I’d never dare to try, but maybe with these wonderful instructions, I’ll give it a try or maybe just drool at your pictures instead ;-))

Don’t forget your loyal fans in Canada – so glad I found this blog–you are a super intelligent girl – your posts are always well-written, informative and fun and I am so glad you are so successful!
I cannot like you on FB as I do not have an account–so count this as two likes!

Happy Blog Anniversary! Wow, has it only been a year? It seems like I’ve been reading you forever – and I mean that in the best possible way. I love your enthusiasm both for baking and for blogging, and your imaginative prose is loads of fun to read. You do good stuff – thanks for sharing with us.

Uru, congratulations! You made a wise decision to listen to your mother… 🙂 I am so happy for you, my dear friend! Thanks for sharing all your beautiful and tasty recipes with us, and most important, thanks for being you… 🙂

I wish I was so smart, poised and talented at your age!! You are an amazing young lady and I know your parents are doing cartwheels everyday to have brought you into the world!! This blog is a triumph… you have done such an outstanding job of it in the last year!! I could not be prouder of you if you were my own daughter…and wish you more good fortune for the next year to come!! Well done my friend. 🙂

PS…. you make it all look easy. I don’t think I could ever get such beautiful croissants/puff pastry like you have here. They look amazing!!

My friend you are too sweet for words 😀
I don’t know if they are cartwheeling but I hope eating 😉
You have been one of my blogging mums, one of the people who have helped nurture me in the ways of blogging and I appreciate it a lot!

I’m not entering the giveaway, just want to congratulate you on your first blog anniversary and tell you that I think you are a fantastic blogger. Your mom was right to encourage you to do this and I only see you growing as the time goes on. Looking forward to another wonderful year and wishing you much continued success with it.

Happy 1 yr anniversary, it’s hard to believe it’s been only a year. I honestly thought you had been doing this longer, Your blog is inspiring! You chose an ambitious undertaking, croissants and they turned out beautifully, speaks volumes about your culinary skills. They look amazing, I have never made them before, and you now you inspired me to give it it try very soon

Uru,
Happy Blog Birthday! All of your recipes are amazing, and you are so talented in writing and baking, beyond your years. These croissants are a testament to your baking ability. Looking forward to the next year to see all of your new creations! I’m happy to have you as a friend!

Oh la la la la, a celebration ! There was I getting all dreamy about the lemon merrangue pie and you topped it with croissants. You do know ho wto look afte rus don’t you !!I’m bookmarking this – just love it, oh and the lemon merrangue too 🙂

Hey Uru, you are not that old after all!! Just few months older than me 😀 Wish you a very very happy blog birthday, with many many more to come. I will be the first one to line up and buy your e-book. I love reading your post, and hey, I do want that Amazon gift card, it will go towards my ice-cream machine, something that I plan to buy with my ‘blogging’ money 😀

Happy first Birthday and Many Happy Returns! I find it hard to believe you’ve only been blogging a year, only a month more than me but I learned so much from you, your style, your generosity, your loyalty.
May yor blogging long continue to inspire and to develop. I’ll be looking forward to seeing your ebook.
All the best to you 🙂

But our blogs are about the same age! Yours is super awesome, I’m glad you started it 🙂 I can’t believe it’s also only a year, you seem so established! I feel like I’m starting to finally figure out the blogging thing and work out a schedule that works for me, which is nice. Blogging is awesome! And your giveaway prize is awesome, because everyone loves Amazon (boooooooooks!!!)